Border Patrol Seizes 67 Lbs. of Meth at Immigration Checkpoint, K-9 Team Detects Narcotics
The United States Customs and Border Protection agents from Southern California's El Centro Sector arrested a woman suspect over the weekend after attempting to smuggle methamphetamine through an immigration checkpoint.
Based on the agents of the CBP, they have seized 42 packages of the narcotic in total. The interception happened on Saturday morning at around 6:45 a.m. PT.
According to Fox News, a spokesman of the CBP confirmed through an email that they have seized a total of 1,199 pounds of meth in the El Centro Sector from Oct. 1, 2020 - the beginning of the federal government's fiscal year - and 1,574 pounds of the said narcotic this fiscal year.
Despite the initial information given, the spokesman wants to maintain some of the information confidential. He also stated that they would not provide further details on the matter.
The spokesperson explained, to avoid unfair trial, they are not giving out any details of the ongoing investigation that would hinder the prosecution. He also clarified that the content of their press release will be the only information they will be providing for the time being.
On Monday, the agency shared during the release that the incident occured at around 6:45 a.m. when a gray Dodge Journey 2009 model approached the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint. The Border Patrol K-9 detection team alerted the vehicle in the primary inspection lane. Agents directed the vehicle to proceed to the secondary inspection area for further investigation.
In addition, agents then found the 42 packages of suspected narcotics that had been hidden inside of the rocker panels of the vehicle. CBP shared that the contents inside of the packages later tested positive for the characteristics of methamphetamine. Agents then arrested the driver and held her for further processing.
Also, the release stated that the woman is a 24-year-old U.S. citizen. The CBP agents turned over the woman, vehicle, and drugs to the DEA or the Drug Enforcement Administration. The estimated value of the seized 67.6 pounds of methamphetamine is estimated around $185,900.
CBP posted on its Twitter account on Tuesday the photo of the K-9 agent in front of the packages intercepted. They emphasized in the post that the nose always knows.
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Port of Nogales Inerception
On Monday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers also confiscated 20.55 pounds of methamphetamine at the Port of Nogales.
Port Director Michael W. Humphries posted on his Twitter account that the meth was hidden within the spare tire of the vehicle. Based on their estimation, the value of the amount of the drug was around $48,000.
Humphries then thanked Nogales officers for keeping the dangerous narcotics out of communities across the country.
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